Syllabus
12th Grade English
Instructor: Asal Meyer (Ms. M.)
Email: ameyer@hightechhigh.org
Phone: 760-759-2700 ex. 56213
Room 111
Office Hours: Wednesday, 3:30PM – 4:30PM
Essential Question
How do we begin to interpret meaning in our individual lives through the discipline of literature?
Course Description
This course is designed to lay the foundations of literary studies as a reader and writer. This course will be taught with the rigor, style, and expectations of a college-level course. Students will become familiar with the major literature of the modern world through the study of various literary genres including fiction, prose, drama, and poetry. Ultimately, through the integration of literature, philosophy, and theory students will work to develop strong critical and integrative thinking skills.
Grading Grading Scale
40% Class Work & Discussion 100% - 90% A 79% - 70% C
30% In-Class Essays & Assessments 89% - 80% B 69% and Below Not Passing
20% Participation & Motivation
10% Personal Statements
Course Preparation & Organization
Students will need to come prepared to class every day having done the necessary reading and writing assigned. Also, on a daily basis students are asked to bring their 3-ring binder/notebook, loose-leaf paper, pen, and pencil to class. Each student will be expected to have a personal notebook for the class, organized into four sections: Journal, Lecture & Notes, Personal Statements, and Graded Work.
Course Requirements
Course Readings
The following list is a complete list of all the texts for the 12th grade English course.
NOTE: The Constitution of the State of California requires that we provide a public education to you free of charge. Subject to certain exceptions, your right to a free public education means that we cannot require you or your family to purchase materials, supplies, equipment or uniforms for any school activity.
Many families have been asking what supplies their child may need during this school year. Below, we have a recommended list of supplies that your child may bring to school. Please note that if your child does not bring the recommended supplies, the school will provide the supplies for him/her. If you have any questions/comments about this, please contact us, or Emilio Torres, the school director
Course Readings (in chronological order):
Course Procedures and Expectations
Honors Coursework
Honors coursework is supplemental to the expected classwork of 12th grade English and expands on the rigor and depth of the established curriculum. Honors coursework is a semester long commitment and students must be prepared to follow through with the expected work. Please let Ms. M. know if interested in signing an Honors Contract.
Honors Coursework Requirements
Instructor: Asal Meyer (Ms. M.)
Email: ameyer@hightechhigh.org
Phone: 760-759-2700 ex. 56213
Room 111
Office Hours: Wednesday, 3:30PM – 4:30PM
Essential Question
How do we begin to interpret meaning in our individual lives through the discipline of literature?
Course Description
This course is designed to lay the foundations of literary studies as a reader and writer. This course will be taught with the rigor, style, and expectations of a college-level course. Students will become familiar with the major literature of the modern world through the study of various literary genres including fiction, prose, drama, and poetry. Ultimately, through the integration of literature, philosophy, and theory students will work to develop strong critical and integrative thinking skills.
Grading Grading Scale
40% Class Work & Discussion 100% - 90% A 79% - 70% C
30% In-Class Essays & Assessments 89% - 80% B 69% and Below Not Passing
20% Participation & Motivation
10% Personal Statements
Course Preparation & Organization
Students will need to come prepared to class every day having done the necessary reading and writing assigned. Also, on a daily basis students are asked to bring their 3-ring binder/notebook, loose-leaf paper, pen, and pencil to class. Each student will be expected to have a personal notebook for the class, organized into four sections: Journal, Lecture & Notes, Personal Statements, and Graded Work.
Course Requirements
- Reading - There will be a reading assignment assigned EVERY day. Each student will be held responsible for completing every night's reading assignment. Reading assignments will be comprised of the assigned reading and reader-response assignment; response assignments will first be Dialectical Journals for Franny and Zooey and then a Literary Exhange for Hamlet. Reader-response assignments will be due at the end of each literary unit. The reading schedule will be posted to the course Digital Portfolio (DP).
- Lectures and Class Discussions – There will be lecture every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in class. Students should always come prepared to take complete notes.
- In-Class Essays and Assessments – At the end of each novel read, there will be either an in-class essay or other form of assessment. These essays and assessments will give students the ability to demonstrate and express understanding and analysis of class texts.
- Poetry Project – Students will work to analyze and develop a portfolio of poems. Ultimately, students will create a “found poem” of their own.
- Critical Theory Essay – Throughout the semester, each senior will draft and write a complete literary analysis of a class text through the lens of a studied Critical Theory. The essay will culminate in a final presentation and assessment of the written essay and analysis at the end of the semester.
- Civil Discourse – Every week, students will research, post, and discuss a current event as an exercise of civil discourse. The students' work will focus on practicing and improving discourse skills, while developing meaningful conversations around current events and issues. The Civil Discourse grade will be included in the “Classwork & Discussion” portion of the course grade.
Course Readings
The following list is a complete list of all the texts for the 12th grade English course.
NOTE: The Constitution of the State of California requires that we provide a public education to you free of charge. Subject to certain exceptions, your right to a free public education means that we cannot require you or your family to purchase materials, supplies, equipment or uniforms for any school activity.
Many families have been asking what supplies their child may need during this school year. Below, we have a recommended list of supplies that your child may bring to school. Please note that if your child does not bring the recommended supplies, the school will provide the supplies for him/her. If you have any questions/comments about this, please contact us, or Emilio Torres, the school director
Course Readings (in chronological order):
- Franny and Zooey, J.D. Salinger
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare
- Man's Search for Meaning, Dr. Viktor Frankl
Course Procedures and Expectations
- Classroom Culture - Students will show compassion, respect, and consideration for fellow students, Ms. M., and any guests in the classroom at all times. Any disregard for any of the above-mentioned qualities will not be tolerated.
- Attendance & Tardiness
- Class begins on time, every day. Tardiness will adversely affect a student's “Participation & Motivation” grade.
- Daily attendance is mandatory for success in the course. Students must be present and prepared at all times. All students are held responsible for all reading and writing assignments assigned while absent. Students can call or email a classmate and email Ms. M. for the assignments missed. Students must be prepared to turn in make-up assignments upon returning to class.
- Students will not be allowed to go to their cars during school hours. Student must make sure to bring all needed materials and books to class.
- Late Work - Assignments must be completed by the date due. In case of an emergency or illness, accommodations can be made.
- Academic Integrity - Citations for sources must be included for every assignment. Any assignment with any form of plagiarism will receive an immediate zero.
- Cellphones and Computers
- Cellphones - Cellphones must be off during class. There will be an initial warning for any accidental ringing or buzzing. After the initial warning, a student's cellphone will be taken away for the rest of the day and may be picked up at Mr. Gooch's office at the end of the day. Listening to music while working in class is by teacher discretion and permission only.
- Computers - Computers are welcome at school and in class. However, using a computer for a purpose outside of classwork will result in the loss of the privilege of using either a classroom or personal computer.
- Food, Drink, and Gum
- Food and Drink - No food is to be eaten in class and water is the only acceptable beverage.
- NO GUM.
- Dress Code - HTHNC's dress code will be enforced at all times.
Honors Coursework
Honors coursework is supplemental to the expected classwork of 12th grade English and expands on the rigor and depth of the established curriculum. Honors coursework is a semester long commitment and students must be prepared to follow through with the expected work. Please let Ms. M. know if interested in signing an Honors Contract.
Honors Coursework Requirements
- Comparative Literature Analysis - For each course reading, honors students will be expected to read another text by the assigned author and write a comparative literature analysis essay; this essay will be due the day of the in-class assessment for the corresponding text. The following texts are partnered with course texts:
- Excerpts from Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction, J.D. Salinger
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tom Stoppard
- Excerpts from The Unheard Cry for Meaning: Psychotherapy and Humanism, Dr. Viktor Frankl
- Independent Reading – Each semester, honors students will be required to read an additional novel of his or her choice and write a letter to Ms. M. recommending the book. The letter will be by the end of the semester.
- Honors Meetings – Every honor students will be required to attend a mandatory honors meetings for every unit. Our honors meetings will be held during school hours. Students will guide discussions on coursework and honors reading. Dates will be scheduled throughout the semester and are subject to change.
